Electric signal



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1. G. H. SHERWOOD.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

' No. 562.929. Patented June 30, 18

a an WITNESSES ggg ATTORNEY ARDIEVI LGHAHAN.PNUYD-UTHQWASMNGTOMDB' (NoModel.) 2 SheetsSheet 2. G. H. SHERWOOD. ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

No. 562,929. Patented June 30, 1896 ANDREW 168mm.PNOYGUMQWASHINGTUQLDD.

WITNSSES I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. Sl-IERXVOOD, OF UTICA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOHENRY G. LYMAN, OF SHERBURNE, NEXT YORK.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,929, dated June 30,1896.

Application filed October 21, 1895. Serial No. 566,291. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- A represents a case which is suitably lo-Beitknown that I, CHARLES H. SHERWOOD, cated at the street-crossing andis provided of Utica, in the county of Oneida, in the with thelaterally-swinging door A. \Vithin 5 5 State of New York, have-inventednew and said case is located the bell-ringing mech- 5 usefulImprovements in Electric Signals, of ,anism, consisting of the usualmagnet c and which the following, taken in connection with its armatureprovided with the bell-hamthe accompanying drawings, is a full, clear,mer c". A battery B and a circuit maker and and exact description.breaker are also located within said case and 6:1

This invention relates to the class of elecall in circuit. to triosignals which are employed on railroads The bell b is secured to theouter face of and operated automatically by a passing the door A and isprovided with a shield I). train; and it consists usually of a belllocated Said door isshown thrown part way open and at a street-crossing,an electric circuit, bellpresenting aface view of its free edge thereof.6 ringing mechanism and battery in said circuit, Near the bell the dooris provided with a hole I 5 a circuit1naker remote from the signal and aor slot 1)" (shown in dotted lines) for the recircuit-breake'r adjacentto the signal, both ception of the bell-hammer c". operated by thewheels of a passing train or In a suitable portion of the case islocated engine. Said systems require a great deal of a main air-cylinderC, disposed in a vertical 7o wiring and a great number of batterieswhich position and having its pist0n-r0d e extendrequire a great deal ofcare and repairing ing upward. On the upper end of said cyland areexpensive. ind er is located the circuit maker and breaker, My inventionconsists of a bell located at consisting of two flexible metal plates (1(I, the street-crossing, an electric circuit, bellsecured on theinsulating-plate g by means 7 5 ringing mechanism, and a single batteryin of the binding-post ff, to which one end of said. circuit, a circuitmaker and breaker adeach of the two wires of the electric circuit Ijacent to the bell, an air-cylinder having its is fastened. Theupper-end of the piston piston operating said circuit maker and rod e isprovided with a ball 6", by which it breaker, air-pumps andrelief-valves controlbears against one of the aforesaid flexible 8o lingthe movement of said piston-rod, and a plates d and insulated therefrom,as shown track instrument at each pump actuated by at cl in thedrawings.

a passing train or engine operating said Adjacent to the main cylinder Cis a vertipumps. Cally-disposed relief air-cylinder D, having Theinvention is fully illustrated in the no its piston-rod a extendingupward. Directly 8 5 companying drawings, in whichabove therelief-cylinder is a reliefvalve a,

5 Figure 1 is a view showing my improved having its stem at" axially inline with the system. Fig. 2 is a detail side view of the piston-roda,which valve communicateswith main air-cylinder having the circuitmaker the top of the interior of the main cylinder 0 and breaker locatedthereon. Fig. 3 is a plan by means of the pipe 72.. view of the same.Fig. 4 is a side view of the Remote from the case A in opposite direc- 0pump adjacent to the signal and a relief-valve tions are two air-pumps 22, communicating operated thereby and showing the track inwith thebottom of the interior of the main strument which operates the same.Fig. 5 is cylinder by means of the pipes i, j, and k.

aview on line X X in Fig. i. Fig. 6 is an en- Adjacent to the case A isa similar pump 1,

larged side view of a modification of the communicatingwiththetop of themaincylinpump adjacent to the signal and track inder bymeans of thepipes Z, m, n, and h. Adstrument operating the same. Fig. 7 is a jacentto the pump 1 is a relief-valve 3, havlongitudinal section on line "W W,Fig. 6. ing its stem 26 extending upward and oper- Fig. 8 is atransverse section on line YY, Fig. ated by the verticallyswingingfinger 2'7, pivmo (5 3 and Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse section otedto the lower end of the cylinder of the 50 on line Z Z, Fig. 7. pump,said finger being swung to force down Similar letters and numerals ofreference the stem of said valve with its outer end by indicatecorresponding parts. means of the plate 5, secured on the lower end ofthe piston-rod at of said pump-cylinder, striking the inner end of saidfinger in the upward movement of said plate.

The relief-valve 3 communicates with the bottom of the interior of theair-cylinder O by means of the pipes o, p, j, and 7c, and with thebottom of the interior of the cylinder D by means of said pipes and thepipes t" and h, extending from the pipe 7t. Said pumps are each operatedbya track instrument consisting of a horizontal rock-shaft 6, extendingfrom beneath the plate 5 on the piston-rod 4 to the railway-track andprovided with a vertical arm 7 on the end adjacent to the track and ahorizontal arm 8 and arms 8 8 at, respectively, the remote and adjacentpumps.

Between the plate 5 and pump-cylinder is interposed a spring 9 for thepurpose of forcing down the plate 5, thereby drawing down thepump-piston and also throwing the track instrument to its normalposition.

The pipes 71. and i are provided with popvalves f f to relieve anyexcess pressure, and the pipe j is provided with check-valve g g atopposite sides of the connection with the pipe 7c.

The operation of my improved signal system is as follows: As a trainfrom either direction approaches the street crossing at which is locatedthe signal and passing a remote pump 2, the wheels of said train strikethe vertical arm 7, which rocks the shaft 6, thereby throwing up thehorizontal arm 8, secured on the inner end of said shaft, which pushesup the plate 5 and the piston-rod 4 and piston of said pump, whereby theair is forced through the pipes '11, j, and into the bottom of theinterior of the main cylinder 0, and also from the pipe 70, through thepipe i and h, into the bottom of the interior of the relief-cylinder D,whereby its pistonrod a is forced up and pushes up the stem a of therelief -valve a, operating the same, releasing the air from the cylinder0 above the piston through the pipe h. By forcing the airinto the bottomof the cylinder 0 and releasing the air from the top thereof its pistonand rod 6 are moved up, and said rod, bearing against one of theflexible plates d, forces the same into contact with the other plate cl,thereby closing the electric circuit, whereby the bell at thestreet-crossing is rung as an indication of the approach of a train. Thepistonrod 6 remains in its outward position and holding said plates incontact until the train reachesthe crossing and is passing the pump 1.In passing the adjacent pump 1 the track instrument is actuatedprecisely the same as at pump 2, and the rock-shaft 6 being providedwith two horizontal arms 8 8 on its inner end, beneath the plate 5 onthe piston-rod of the pump, said pump will be operated by a train movingin either direction. lVhen the adjacent pump 1 is operated, the air isforced through the pipes 1', m, 'n,

.a single-track road.

and 72, into the top of the interior of the main cylinder 0 to forcedown its piston and rod c in order to allow the adjacent flexible plate(Z to spring away from the other plate (1 to open the circuit, wherebythe bell ceases to ring. In order to allow the piston of said cylinderto move down, the air is released from the bottom thereof by means ofthe reliefvalve 3 operated by the pump 1, as aforesaid, through thepipes o, p, j, and 7c, and the air in the bottom of the cylinder D isreleased at the same time through the pipes 7t and i into the pipe It.By releasing the air from the cylinder D its piston is allowed todescend, drawing the rod a away from the valvestem a of the relief-valveato allow the same to close.

The system as herein shown is designed for On a double-track road thedescribed mechanism and arrangement of the cylinder, valves, pumps, &c.,is doubled.

The herein-described case A may be of any suitable form or design so asto protect the bell-ringing mechanism, battery, the circuit maker andbreaker, c. from the weather. I prefer to employ a dry battery in myimproved system to avoid freezing of same.

The pumps 1 and 2 and track instrument I prefer to construct in the formshown in the modification, which construction is as follows From thetrack-rail extending outward is a horizontal plate 10, suitably securedon the tie T,and on the outer end portion of said plate are bolted thetwo legs 11 11, which support the pump-cylinder a. The inner side ofeach leg is formed with a segmental guide 12, in which slides theannular horizontal plate 5, secured to the lower end of the piston-rod 4of the pump-cylinder A. On the outer end of the horizontal rock-shaft 6of the track instrument and bearing against the under side of the plate5 are the two horizontal arms 8 S at the pumps adjacent to the signal,and a single arm 8 at the pumps remote from the sig- .nal, as shown inFig. 1 of the drawings. Said shaft is mounted in suitable journal-boxes12 12,the lower half of said boxes being formed on the plate 10. Infront of the pump-cylinder and secured to the plate 10 are two verticalposts 13 13, and on the tops of said posts is secured a horizontal plate14:, provided with a hole or guide 15. Below the plate 141 is a plate16, provided with two holes or guides 24 24 at its end portion, by whichit slides up and down 1 on the posts 13 13. Below the plate 16 extendsthe rock-shaft 6 and has secured thereon two horizontal arms 17 17,provided with rollers R R, which bear against the under side of theplate 16, said plate being provided with a rubber or rawhide facing onits under side. I11 the center of said latter plate is secured orprovided a vertical piston-rod 18, which moves in the guide 15, formedin the plate 14:,as afore said, and between said plates is interposed aspiral spring 19. The vertical arm 7 on the end of the rock-shaftadjacent to the track I provide with a roller 20, which is preferablysecured thereto by means of a bolt 21, the head 22 of which iscountersunk in the roller formed with a shoulder 23. The object of thisarrangement is to retain the track instrument in its position in casethe pump becomes acci dentally displaced, thereby preventing the arm 7from being tipped toward the track and thereby cause a train or engineto be derailed.

The plate 10 is preferably formed with a rib 25 around its edge, bywhich to retain a case or covering over the instrument and pump, notnecessary to be shown.

hat I claim as my invention is- 1. in a railroad electric signalingapparatus or system, the combination with the circuit maker and breaker,of an air-cylinder having its piston-rod in proximity to said circuitmaker and breaker, air-pumps remote from the signal communicating withthe bottom of the interior of said cylinder and moving its piston andpiston-rod to operate the circuit maker and breaker to close thecircuit, a pump adjacent to the signal communicating with the top of theinterior of said cylinder to move its piston and piston-rod to open thecircuit, relief-valves relieving said cylinder from compressed air infront and back of its piston and track instruments actuated by a passingtrain.

operating said pumps as described and shown.

In a railroad electric signaling system, the combination with thecircuit maker and breaker, of an air-cylinder having its pistonrod inproximity to said circuit make-rand breaker, air-pumps remote from thesignal communicating with the bottom of the interior of said cylinderand a relief-valve communicatin g with the top of the interior of thecylinder to move its piston and operate the maker and breaker to closethe circuit, a pump adjacent to the signal communicating with the top ofthe interior of the cylinder and a relief-valve operated by the adjacentpump communicating with the bottom of the interior of said cylinder tomove its piston-rod to allow the maker and breaker to automatically openthe circuit and track instruments operated by a passing train operatingsaid pumps as described and shown.

3. In a railroad electric signaling system, the combination with thecircuit maker and breaker, of a main air-cylinder having its piston-rodin proximity to said circuit maker and breaker, air-pumps remote fromthe signal communicating with the bottom of the interior of the maincylinder, a relief-valve communicating with the top of the interior ofthe main cylinder, a relief-cylinder having its piston-rod operatingsaid relief-valve, a pump adjacent to the signal communicating with thetop of the interior of the main cylinder, a relief-valve operated by theadjacent pump communicating with the bottoms of the interior of bothcylinders and track instruments actuated by a passing train operatingsaid pumps as shown for the purpose described.

i. In an electric signaling system, the combination of a bell a normallyopen electric circuit, bell-ringing mechanism and a battery in saidcircuit, an air-cylinder, a circuit maker and breaker on said cylinderand insulated therefrom, the piston-rod of said cylinder operatin g saidcircuit maker and breaker to close the circuit in its outward movement,said maker and breaker automatically closing the circuit in the inwardmovement of said pistonrod, and air-pumps and relief-valvescommunicating with opposite ends of the interior of said cylinder tocontrol the movement of said piston-rod as described and shown.

5. In an electric signaling system, the combination of abell, a normallyopen electric circuit, bell-ringing mechanism and a battery in saidcircuit, an air-cylinder, the circuit maker and breaker consisting oftwo flexible plates secured on and extending from the end of saidcylinder and insulated therefrom, the piston-rod of said cylinder movingand pressing said plates into contact in its outward movement to closethe circuit, and air-pumps and relief-valves communicating with oppositeends of the interior of said cylinder controlling the movement of itspiston-rod as described and shown.

6. In a railroad electric signal system, the combination with thenormally open circuit maker and breaker, consisting of two flexibleplates at cl, of a main air-cylinder 0 having its piston-rod 6 operatingsaid circuit maker and breaker, air-pumps 2 2 remote from the signalcommunicating with the bottom of the interior of the main cylinder andbottom of the interior of the relief-cylinder D, a relief-valve aoperated by the piston-rod of of the cylinder D, an air-pump 1 adjacentto the signal communicating with the top of the interior of the maincylinder 0, a relief-valve 3 operated by the adjacent pump andcommunicating with the bottoms of the interior of both air-cylinders, aplate 5 on the piston-rod 4: of the cylinders of the pumps, a rock-shaft6 extending from the railroad-track to each pump beneath the plate 5, anarm '7 on the end of said shaft adjacent to the track, a single arm 8 onthe inner end of the rock-shaft at the remote pump 2 2, two arms 8 8 onthe inner end of the rock-shaft at the adjacent pump 4 and a spring 9interposed between the plate 5 and pumpcylinder for the purposedescribed.

7. In an electric signaling system, the combination of avertically-disposed air-cylinder, the circuit maker and breaker locatedthereon, the piston-rod on said cylinder moving said maker and breakerto close the circuit in its upward movement, said maker and breakerautomatically opening the circuit when released by the downward movementof the piston-rod, a vertically-disposed relief air-cylinder adjacent tothe main cylinder, a reliefvalve above the relief-cylinder having itsstem axially in line with the piston-rod of the latter cylinder, andcommunicating with the top of the interior of the main cylinder, remoteair-pumps in opposite directions from the signal communicating with thebottom of the interior of both said cylinders, said pumps operated by atrack instrument actuated by a passing train approaching the signalonly, a pump adjacent to the signal communicating with the top of theinterior of the main cylinder, a relief-valve operated by the latterpump andcommunicating with the bottom of the interior of bothair-cylinders, a track instrument actuated by a train moving in eitherdirection operating the latter pump and suitable pipe connectionsbetween all of said pumps and cylinders as described and shown.

8. The combination with the main air-cylinder C, of an insulating-plateg secured to the end of said cylinder, the circuit maker and breakerconsisting of two vertical flexible plates d cl normally apart, securedto said insulating-plate by means of binding-posts ff, the piston-rod 6provided with the ball 6 on its outer end and bearing against one ofplates (1, remote air-pumps 2 2 communicating with the bottom of theinterior of said cylinder to force its piston and rod out to spring theadjacent plate at against the other plate (Z to close the circuit, anadjacent airpump 1 communicating with the top of the interior of saidmain cylinder to force down its piston and rod, to allow the adjacentplate (I to spring away from the other plate, a relief-cylinder Dadjacent to the main cylinder, at relief-valve a having its stem toaxially in line with the piston-rod c of the-relief-cylinder andreleasing the air from the top of the interior of the main cylinder, arelief-valve 3 operated by the adjacent pump 1 releasing the air fromthe bottom of the interior of both cylinders and track instrumentsoperating all of said pumps and actuated by a passing train asdescribed.

9. In combination with the caseA having a swinging door A of a bell 19secured to the outer face of the door and having a shield I) over thesame, an electric circuit bell-ringing mechanism, a battery B, a circuitmaker and breaker consisting of two plates d d secured to theair-cylinder O, a relief-cylinder D and a relief-valve a communicatingwith the top of the interior of the cylinder 0 all Within said case, thepiston-rod e of saidlatter cylinder operating said circuit maker andbreaker, air-pumps 2 2 remote from the case communicating with thebottom of the interior of both cylinders O and D, an air-pump 1adjarcent to the case and communicating with the top of the interior ofthe cylinder 0, a reliefvalve 3 operated by the adjacent pump andcommunicating with the bottom of the interior of both cylinders, andtrack instruments actuated by a passing train operating said pumps asdescribed and shown.

10. In the combined air-pump and track instrument, a combination of anair-cylinder, supports for said cylinder, an annular hori zontal plateor disk secured to the lower end of the piston-rod of said cylinder, arock-shaft extending outward from the track-rail beneath the cylinderand provided with a horizontal arm or arms bearing against the underside of said annular plate, a vertical arm secured to the end of saidshaft adjacent to the track-rail to be actuated by the wheels of apassing engine or train, a spring between the aforesaid cylinder andplate, and guides in said supports for said annular plate as set forthand shown.

11. In the combined pump and track instrument, the combination of anair-cylinder, supports for said cylinder, an annular horizontal plate ordisk secured to the lower end of the piston-rod of said cylinder,segmental guides formed in said supports for said plate, a horizontalrock-shaft extending outward from the track-rail and beneath said plateand formed with two horizontal arms bearing against the under side ofsaid plate, a vertical arm secured to the end of said shaft adjacent tothe track-rail and provided with a roller arranged in position to comein contact with the wheels of a passing train or engine, and a springbetween the aforesaid plate and air-cylinder throwing said shaft andarms to their normal position as set forth and shown.

12. In the combined pump and track instrument, the combination of ahorizontal supporting-plate extending outward from the track-rail, twovertical legs forming supports mounted on the outer end portion of saidplate and formed with guides in their inner side, an air-cylindermounted on said legs, an annular horizontal plate or disk secured to thelower end of the piston-rod of said cylinder and moving in the aforesaidguides, a horizontal rock-shaft extending from the trackrail outwardbeneath said plate or disk and having two horizontal arms thereonprovided with rubber or rawhide faced rollers bearing against the underside of said plate, said shaft being mounted in suitable journal-boxeson the supporting-plate, two vertical posts secured to thesupporting-plate in front of the cylinder, a horizontal plate secured ontop of said posts and provided with a guide in the center, another platebelow the latter plate and provided with two guides at its end portionby which it slides up and down on the aforesaid posts, the aforesaidrock-shaft being beneath said sliding plate and provided with twoadditional horizontal arins having rollers bearing against the underside of the latter plate, which plate is provided with a rubber facingor rawhide cushion, a vertical piston-rod secured to the sliding plateand moving in the guide in the center of the plate above, a spiralspring; interposed between the signed my name this 10th day ofSeptember, two latter plates, a vertical arm secured on 1895. 1 the endof the rock-shaft adjacent to the track-rail and provided with a rollerto come 5 in contact with the wheels of a, passing train itnesses':

01- engine as set forth. D. 'L. ATKYNS, In testimony whereof I havehereunto H. M. LOOMIS.

CHARLES H. SHERWOOD. [1,. 5,]

